BRISTOL, Conn. — Portsmouth’s Booma Post 6 American Legion baseball team opened the Northeast Regional tournament with a 7-3 win over Lyndenhurst, N.J., on Thursday.

Tim Welch earned the victory on the mound for Booma, allowing just five hits in eight innings. Welch gave up three earned runs and struck out seven.

There were others, too.

One that comes to mind is Brooklawn’s Brett Laxton, who pitched the New Jersey power to the 1991 World Series championship in Boyertown and to the final day of the 1992 World Series in Fargo, N.D. … after having already committed to LSU (where he would become the National Freshman of the Year and later help the Tigers to the College World Series title).

By Gerry J. Gilmore American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Aug. 15, 2008 – President Bush today pledged the United States will support the former Soviet republic of Georgia in its time of need, as Russian troops still occupy parts of the country.

\”The United States and our allies stand with the people of Georgia and their democratically elected government,\” Bush said at the White House.

\”Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected. Moscow must honor its commitment to withdraw its invading forces from all Georgian territory,\” Bush declared, noting the United States is working closely with its European allies and other members of the G-7 world economic organization to bring resolution to the crisis.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is now conferring with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili in Tbilisi, the country’s capital city, Bush said. Rice is in Georgia to express \”America’s wholehearted support for Georgia’s democracy,\” Bush said.

Bush said Rice later will travel to his ranch in Crawford, Texas, to update him on the situation in Georgia. Bush said Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is keeping him briefed on the ongoing humanitarian mission in Georgia.

On Aug. 8, Russian forces crossed the border into the contested northern Georgian provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia after Georgian military forces had clashed with separatists in South Ossetia the day before. Georgia was part of the former Soviet Union before declaring its independence in 1991. However, South Ossetia and Abkhazia often have expressed their displeasure at being under Georgian rule and have sought to ally themselves with Russia, to the north.

The eight-team, double-elimination tournament, which includes the local Post 2 squad as the host team, begins today with four games at Muzzy Field and will conclude with the crowning of the regional champion on Monday. That champion and seven other regional winners will advance to play in the American Legion World Series beginning Aug. 22 in Shelby, North Carolina. Audio broadcasts of the games Northeast Regional games will be available at www.sportingnewsct.com. The featured speaker for last night\’s banquet was ESPN\’s Chris Berman.

After much discussion on the appropriate way to honor those whom made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of the United States, the Mayor’s Advisory Committee has a recommendation that should please the families of the 68 individuals and the present residents of the City. The 68 persons were as follows: three from the Civil War, five from World War I, forty-nine from World War II, two from the Korean War and one from the War on Terror.

The committee has selected a 2 foot by 4 foot banner with a picture or a symbol, when a photo is not available, and name, the date and location of death and the war. The banners will be flown from the existing poles along Broadway during the months of May and November.

Banners on Broadway…..click link to continue

Forged from the steel of the World Trade Center, the USS New York will be commissioned into military service with the US Navy in New York City on September 12th 2009. Exactly 8 years and a day from those tragic events of Sept, 11, 2001, She comes home, the WTC reborn. No other ship in world history will carry the strength and sacrifice this ship exhibits and she will always remind us to \”Never Forget\”

When you take metal from the World Trade Center and put it in a ship called New York you are recycling more than steel, you are recycling emotion, You take our worst day and turn it into our greatest warship.

The ceremony will cap a week of events intended to let USSNY’s crew enjoy the flavors of the city as well as allowing ordinary citizens to walk her decks. It’s an event you don’t want to miss, nothing compares. So please, for the week of September, 6^th through the 12^th 2009, come to the City, visit the ship and put yourself in a New York State of mind

\”Our port visit to Umm Qasr demonstrates the great confidence we have in our Iraqi partners and reflects the marked improvements in security that they have achieved within the past several months,\” Navy Lt. Cmdr. Trent Thompson, Firebolt’s commanding officer, said. \”This visit gave us a chance to interact with senior Iraqi navy leadership and further enhance coalition cooperation with the Iraqi navy and marines.\”

While in port, the ship’s crew members were able to participate in friendship-building activities with several senior Iraqi officers.

\”Making a port visit to Iraq and interacting with Iraqi officers is very important, because it builds relationships and promotes positive interaction between our navies,\” Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class David Moore, an electronics technician, said. \”Today was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I am proud to help make a positive difference in Iraq’s future.\”

GLOUCESTER CITY, N.J. — A seasonal rock-lobster-type eatery with outdoor seating has been proposed as the first new restaurant to be opened at the Freedom Pier as part of the city’s plan to transform its waterfront into an Irish village-themed destination.

The venue, to be called Paddy O’D’s, was proposed by Pat O’Donnell, whose family owned O’Donnell’s Restaurant on Broadway for 65 years before he sold it. The restaurant is scheduled to open April 1.

Without state funding, the Gloucester City school district would likely have delayed making playground, lighting and roofing repairs at its facilities, said school Superintendent Paul Spaventa.

\”The projects would have gotten done, just not as expeditiously,\” said Spaventa.

About half the projects will be overseen by the SDA. The rest will be managed by the individual school districts based on the projects\’ scope and complexity.